Originally posted by GibsonGirl (On a sidenote, Ottawa is absolutely beautiful. I want to move here.)

2 weeks in July at Bluesfest including Canada Day in our capital. I can't wait.

Final score tonight

errrrrr, 4-1, Anaheim and Chris Neil knocks himself out against the boards after missing a check.

On a side note again, GG and AOD, we should meet up later this summer. A Newfie interference gathering. I am coming home after a long hiatus on the mainland to return to school to get a real job someday. I am moving to St. John's, of course. I start driving tomorrow and won't make it home until late July. Just in time for the George Street Festival and Regatta Day.

Talk about a sweet deal. Yashin nets almost $18 million in a lump sum payment and is free to sign with any of the other teams(note to Bob Gainey: Please resist any temptation you may have of signing this guy. Thanks!)

Quote:

Islanders buy out Yashin's contract

Associated Press
6/6/2007 8:56:54 AM
NEW YORK (AP) - The New York Islanders are buying out the remaining four years on Alexei Yashin's 10-year contract in the first step of an off-season overhaul they hope will include re-signing Jason Blake and Ryan Smyth.

"It's going to make the team have a different look," coach Ted Nolan said of Yashin's departure in a conference call Wednesday. "Hopefully, we can work something out with (Blake and Smyth). We're trying to assemble a cohesive group here."

Yashin finished with 119 goals and 171 assists in 346 games with the Islanders, but struggled the past two seasons. He had 18 goals and 32 assists this season, when he missed 24 games with a sprained right knee. He was scoreless in the Islanders' five-game first-round playoff loss to the Buffalo Sabres.

"Unfortunately he got hurt and couldn't get back to where he was before. .. He couldn't get it going," Nolan said. "It'll be a nice fresh start for him and now we have to find someone to replace him."

"We'd love to have Ryan back," Nolan said. "We're going to do everything we can to keep him."

Smyth, who was acquired in a trade-deadline deal, and Blake can become unrestricted free agents on July 1.

Yashin came to the Islanders in a trade after the 2000-01 season. New York signed him to a 10-year contract worth US$87.5 million. The four years left on the deal are worth $26.45 million. The Islanders can buy Yashin out by paying two-thirds of the remaining amount ($17.63 million) over the next eight years for a salary-cap hit of about $2.2 million per season.

Snow said the Islanders' decision was based on discussions among team officials and that Yashin was disappointed when he learned of the buyout Tuesday.

"From my time knowing Alexei as a teammate and as a general manager, I have learned that Alexei is nothing but a first-class individual," said Snow, who played with Yashin for four seasons before becoming the Islanders GM. "With him on the team, the Islanders made the playoffs four out of the last five seasons and I believe that we would not have been able to do that without him."

Yashin had his best season with the Islanders in 2001-02 when he had 32 goals and 43 assists in 78 games.

"I believe this is in the best interests of the team and player. .. " Nolan said. "Alexei will have the opportunity to pursue a fresh start and we'll look at options to fill his position."

Originally posted by ladywithspinninghead
Trevster - which shows you taking in at Bluesfest? I still haven't decided if I will or not..most likely not...even though it's one of their best lineups in years!

I will be there every night for certain. Which acts in particular? I don't know yet.

Quote:

post by AOD As for getting together, I'd be for that. I'll actually be seeing GG at the White Stripes concert next month...drive a little faster, Trev, and make it to the show!

The Islanders management team are idiots. They are messing up the cost structure of the NHL like the Blues did years ago when they gave Joe Murphy $4 million.

Well, let's see how the Sens respond to a late 1st period goal and being down 2-0 on the road facing elimination. Will the come out with determination and zeal and fight like a team that wants to be a champion? Will they show character and fight until the end? Or will they mope around the ice for two periods like a dejected defeated team with no spirit?

The team might lack some spirit but the city doesn't!
I just got back from City Hall where 5,000 people kept screaming "Alfie! Alfie! Alfie!" so I guess there's a corner of the country that still likes him.

Despite them being on the brink of elimination, there's still quite the party-atmosphere downtown (I only returned home because I had to go the washroom )

Souray
How I would love for him to return to Montreal but rumour is he wants to move to California to be close to his child and wife...RDS reported he was offered something like $4 million over 4 years which is peanuts after the year he had (even if he's not a very good defenceman)